Setts



. E. sGRlvEN.

ELEVATING TRUCK.

APPLICATION FlLED JUNE 14', 1916.

B. E. SCRIVEN.

ELEVATING TRUCK.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE I4, 1916, 1,388,255. Patented Apr. 27, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITEB STATES PATENT QFFIGE.

BERNARD E. SCRIVEN, OF MOUNT VERNON, NEW YORK, ASSIGNR, TO PLIMP'ION PRESS, OF NORWOOD, MASSACHUSETTS, CGRPGBA'YIION OF MASSACHU- SETTS.

ELEVATING-TRUCK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented A131227, 1920.

Application filed lune 14.-, 1916. Serial No. 163,603.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, BERNARD E. SCRIVEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at 2 North Eighth avenue, Mount Vernon, in the county of IVestchester and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Elevating Trucks; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The present invention relates to that class of trucks in which the load is supported on a vertically movable table which may be raised to transfer the load to the truck, or Y which may be lowered to transfer the load from the truck to another support.

The object of the invention is to provide novel and improved mechanism for raising and lowering the table of this type of truck which will enable the load to be readily and conveniently handled with comparatively little exertion on the part of the operator. A further object of the invention is to provide novel and improved means for connecting the table raising and lowering mechanism with a guiding handle, so that the latter may serve not only for guiding the truck, but also for actuating the table raising and lowering mechanism. A still further object of the present invention is to improve and simplify the table raising and lowering mechanism shown and described in the patent to Adam, No. 1,210,252, granted December 26, 1916.

To these ends the invention consists in the features of construction and combination of parts hereinafter described and referred to in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate what is now considered the preferred form of the present invention, Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved truck; Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a transverse `vertical section on line 3 3 of Fig. 1; Fig.

4 is a transverse vertical section on line 4 4 of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section of the retarding device for checkingthe downward movement of the table, and Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view of one of the details of construction.

The carriage or runninggear of my improved truck comprises an A-shaped frame formed by the obliquely-arranged side members 1 and the cross member 2. The side members are supported at their rear ends upon the rear axle 3, and at their front ends upon the rigid front axle 4. The truck is supported upon four wheels, the rear wheels 5 being mounted upon the ends of the rear axle 3, while the front wheels 6 are mounted upon short spindles 7 carried by the steering knuckles 8 pivotally supported in the yokes 9 secured to each end of the fixed front axle 4. rIhe steering knuckles 8 turn upon a hollow vertical bearing or pivot 10 secured in the yoke 9, the pivot having its bore enlarged at lits lower end for a purpose shortly to be described. The steering knuckles are turned by means of a guiding handle 11 mounted in the slot or recess in the block 13 secured to the front axle 4 at its middle, and arranged to turn about a vertical pivot pin 12. A cross member 14 iixed upon the handle is connected by means of the links 15 to the arms 16 extending from the steering knuckles 8. As the guiding handle is turned to the right or to the left, the front or steering wheels 6 are turned in a corresponding direction 'about the hollow steering pivots 10.

T he vertically movable table of the truck comprises an open frame 18 of angle iron with integral side and end members, and

-with cross members 19 and 2O secured to the side members and located directly over the front and rear axles respectively. `The table is guided at its front end so that it will move directly up or down by means of the guide rods 21 secured in the cross member 19, and vertically movable in the hollow steeringv pivots 10. rIhe head 22 of the guide rod moves in the enlarged lower end of the bore and limits the extent of upward movement of the table. The table is guided at its rear end by means of a hollow downwardly projecting boss 24 secured to the cross member 20, the boss sliding upon an upwardly extending cylindrical member 25 fixed upon the rear axle 3 at its middle. The member 25 is counterbored to receive the headed. bolt 26, the end of which is secured to the washer resting upon the cross member 20, and the shank passing through a head 27 which closes the end of the bore in the member 25, thus forming a stop for limiting the upward 'movement of the rear end of the table.

The mechanism for raising and lowering the table comprises four wedges having inclined upper and lower edges, and adapted to be moved longitudinally between rolls carried by the axles and the table. The two front wedges 29 are formed integrally with cross members 3() and 3l, and are arranged to move with their lower edges supported upon the rolls v32 free to turn upon the front axle between the side members l of the frame and the block L13 which carries the steering handle, and with their upper edges in engagement with the rolls 33 pivotally supported between the brackets 34 secured to the cross member 19 and extending downwardly beyond the periphery of the rolls a sullicient distance to guide the l wedges and prevent lateral movement. The

members l and Lblock 13, it will -be noted, extend 'above the periphery of the rolls 32, and also serve as guides to prevent lateral :movement of the wedges.

kThe rear ywedges 36 are connected-together at their front and rear ends `by `the cross rods 37 and 38, and are also connected at their vfront ends with the frontrwedges 29 by'means of the rods 39 connected at their `brackets 44 secured to the cross piece 20.

The rear wedges are guided and held from lateral movement 1n a vmanner similar to 4the front wedges by means of the downwardly projecting lower edges ofthe brackets 44 and the ilpwardly extending zmembers l.

ln my Vprior application above referred to, the Wedge frame is actuated to elevate and lower the table by means of a handle or levcrseparate from and independent of the guiding handle. In the Apresentpinvenrtion,suchseparate actuating Vlever or handle has been dispensed with, the wedge frame being 'actuated by the guiding handle itself through the following mechanism: Pivoted upon the pin or rod 45, which is mounted in the front ends of the front wedges 29, is a link or member 46 (see Fig. 6) consisting of the side bars 47 connected `by the hollow rod or vbearing sleeve 48 and the several pins or rods 49, 50, and 5l. The rear 'ends of the side bars 47 are notched as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2 to provide an overlifanging shoulder 52 arranged to engage a stop rod 53 extending across from one of the side Wedges 29 to the other to limit `the upward movement of the `'front end of the which is projected. forwardly and ldownwardly beneath the rod 5l. The link Ais normally held in substantially horizontal position with the shoulder 52 in engagement with the rod 53 by means of a leaf spring 55, one end of which is secured around the rod 5l, while the free end passes beneath the rod 56, the spring bearing near its anchored end upon the top "of the stop piece 54.

Pivoted at the forward end of this link is a second link or lever 57 comprising the side bars-58 connectedby the rod or .pin 59 which passes 1throingh'and'turns within the sleeve or tube 48. The side bars 58 are also connected by the rods 60 and6l, the 'latterV of which serves 'to anchor one end ofthe coiled spring '62 which surrounds 'the tube 4S, the other end of thespring being held beneath/the pin `or `rod 49, thefends of which project from the side members 47 of link 46 second link 5.7. The link or. `lever 57 thus normally tends to swing to a substantially vertical position, as shown in Fig. 2. The side bars 58 are each provided with hooksh'ap'edrecess (i'adapte'd to receive the pins 64- upon the guiding handle ll when the latter is swung upwardly about the horizontal pivot 65. rllheprojections 66 extending outwardly 'from the free end ofthe side bars 58 of the lever'57 'afforda convenient means for swingingthe leverl down either by the hand or by Vthe foot of the operator to connect the lever and the handle, which connection, it will be observed,when once made will be maintained while the handle is being depressed, 'but which will be automatically broken when the handle is raised. ]1`rom the foregoing description it will "be evident that when it is desired to 'elevate the table it is only necessary to raise ythe handle, Shook the lever :57 overthe pins 64, and kthen depress the rhandle, `thus drawingthe wedge frame forward and 4raisingthe table. The forward movement of the wedge frame jis sufficient to bring the notches in the upper and lower edges of the' front wedges Vinto engage-ment with the rolls, thereby preventing rearward movement of the wedge frame under the weight ofthe table land load whenlthe handle is released. lf the handle ll be now raised, the lever or member 57 through the action-of the 'spring`6`2 will be automatically disconnected, leaving thehandlo free to be swung to one side or to the other,fand"to/be raised and lowered to a sullicient extent for the proper the truck. Y

The wedge frame is also actuated in the opposite o1 Lrearward*direction to lower the table by means of the guiding handle which when swung upwardly and rearwardly will bring the handle into direct engagement ,with 'the 4forward 'end the link y46,and Iforce the link and wedge frame rearwardly to form stops to limit the movement of ythe guidance and manipulation of a sui'licient distance to carry the grooves in the upper and lower edges of the front wedges out of engagement with the rolls, after which the weight of the table and load will cause the further and complete rearward movement of the wedge frame.

ln order to prevent this movement from being too rapid, with the possibility of damage to the truck by the sudden stopping of the wedge frame or of the descending table, a retarding device has been provided which comprises a cylinder 67 pivoted at its rear end to the cross bar 2 on the frame. ldfithin the cylinder is the piston 68 (see Fig. 5) and connecting rod 69, the end of which projects through a stuliing box and is connected to the cross member 3l at the rear of the front wedges 29. rlhe cylinder 67 is filled with oil or other suitable liquid, and a small passage 71 is provided through the piston through which the liquid is forced as the piston traverses the cylinder during the rearward movement of the wedge frame.

With the mechanism above described a single handle only is required for guiding the truck and for raising and lowering the table. The handle may be quickly and easily connected to the table elevating devices by a simple movement of the hand or foot of the operator, and' will be automatically disconnected therefrom by slightly raising the handle after the table has been elevated. By raising the handle to a greater extent it will cause the table to be lowered.

lVhile the accompanying crawings illustrate and .the foregoing specica-tion describes what is now consideredthe preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to such specific mechanism, but may be embodied in the many other forms and arrangements of parts.

Having thus explained the nature and object of the invention, and specifically described one form of mechanism in which it may be embodied, what is claimed is:

1. An elevating truck having, in combination, a carriage, a vertically movable table, a handle pivoted to turn about vertical and horizontal axes, means for raising the table comprising a pivoted link, the link and handle being provided with cooperating surfaces for connecting the link to the handle whereby a downward movement of the handle effects the raising of the table, and a spring for normally holding the link in raised position out of the path of movement of the handle.

2. An elevating truck having, in combination, a carriage, a vertically movable table, a longitudinally movable wedge frame provided with wedges for raising the table, a handle carried by the carriage and pivoted to turn about a horizontal axis, said handle ,eing )r vided with projections on each side near the horizontal pivot, a link pivotally connected at one end to the wedge frame and provided with an opening at its free end to receive the handle, and with hookshaped recesses in the side walls of the opening' to receive the projections on the handle for actuating the wedge frame when the handle is depressed, a spring tending normally to raise the free end of the link, and means forv depressing the free end of the link against the action of the spring.

3. An elevating truck having, in combination, a carriage, a vertically movable table, a longitudinally movable wedge frame provided with wedges, a handle secured to the carriage and pivoted to turn about a horizontal axis, and a compound link comprising two memebrs, one member pivotally connected to the wedge frame, and the other having one end pivoted to the free end of the first member and having its free end adapted to be connected to the handle for actuating the wedge frame to elevate the table when the handle is depressed.

d. rin elevating truck having, in combination, a carriage, a vertically movable tab e, a longitudinally movable wedge frame, a

.handle carried by the carriage and pivoted to turn about a horizontal axis, a link pivotally connected to the wedge frame, stops for limiting the movement of the link, a spring normally tending to hold the link against one of the stops with the end of the link in position to be engaged by the handle to actuate the wedge frame to lower the table when the handle is aised, and means for connecting the link and handle for actuating the frame to elevate the table when the handle is depressed.

5. in elevating truck having, in combination, a carriage, 'a vertically movable table, a vertically and longitudinally movable wedge frame provided with wedges having upper and lower inclined edges, rolls on the carriage engaging the under edges of the wedges, devices on the carriage adjacent the rolls of greater height than the rolls to prevent lateral movement of the wedges, rolls engaging the upper edges of the wedges, supports for the rolls secured to the table and extending below the periphery of the rolls to prevent lateral movement of the wedges, and means for actuating the wedge frame to raise the table.

G. An elevating truck having, in combination, a carriage having rigidly mounted front and rear axles, guiding rolls rotatably supported upon the axles, devices mounted upon the axles adjacent the rolls and of greater height than the rolls, a vertically movable table, a longitudinally movable wedge frame provided with wedges for rais ing the table, the lower edges of the wedges engaging the rolls on the axles, rolls carried by the table for engaging the upper edges ering the table.

ing pivot forthe knuckleya steering wheel carried Yby the knuckle, a vertically movable table, guiding devicescarried by the table and vertically movable in the hollow steering pivots, and means Vfor raising and low- 8. An elevating truck having, in combination, a carriage having front and rear axles, a `steering knuckle pivotally mounted at each end ofthe front axle, a hollow steering pivot for the knuckle yhaving an en- Ilarged bore at its lower end, a vertically movable table, a guide rod carried by the table and movable in the passage in 'the pivot, the rod being provided with a head movable in the enlarged bore, and means for raising and lowering the table.

9. An elevating -truck having, in combination, a carriage, a vertically movable table, a longitudinally movable wedge frame providedwithwedges for raising andlowering the table, a guiding handle arranged to aetuate the wedge frame in one direction to elevate the table, and an abutment carried by the iframe and normally in position when the table is held elevated to be directly engaged by the handle when the latter is raised, whereby the handle may move the frame in the opposite direction to lower the table.

10. An elevating truck having, in combination, a carriage, a vertically -movable of thetable, and a spring Ifor lnormally -holding the .link in substantially"vertical position in'frontfof theatable and out-of the path of movement =of ythe handle.

ill. An elevating truclrhaving, in'combi nation, Aa carriage, a vertically :movable table, .a handle -pivoted to turn about ver- 'ltical and horizontal axesymeans ior raising the table Acomprising fa V4pivoted link `normally held'out of the path of movement of the handle, the link and :handle being 'pro- 4vided vwith cooperating isu'rfaces for conVV neeting the link 4.to the handle yto raise'the 4table whenthehandle is lowered, and means `on nthe 'link extending :laterally therefrom adapted to be engaged by the `foot of the operator to connectthe linkto the handle.

l`12. An elevating truck having, ineombination, a carriage, a vertically movable table, fa steering ihandle mounted to turn about a horizontal axis, means forraising the table comprising. a pair of .pivotally'connected members, onefprovided on its tree end ywith 'a l'hook and the other pivotally mounted, means on the handle to `be engaged bythe hook-to fraisethe ytable :whenvthe handle is lowered, means for holdingthe hook member :normally out of lthe pathof move-V mentzofthe handle, and a spring for-holding the other member in normal position.

BERN-ARD E. SCR-IVEN. 

